The Birmingham Upright MRI Centre

Updated 4 April 2022

The service opened in 2014 as a single modality Upright and Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) diagnostic centre service for NHS and self-funded service users, serving those who live across the United Kingdom.

The centre is located on Calthorpe Road, in the heart of the Edgbaston Medical Quarter. Calthorpe Road is two miles from Birmingham New Street Station and has ample parking space.

The service was accessible via intercom access and had a large waiting room with disabled access toilet facilities.

The service does not treat people under the age of 18 years.

The service had direct general practitioner (GP) referral pathways with some local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), under which the service can commission activity on their behalf if the service user meets certain agreed criteria.

The Birmingham Upright MRI Centre is registered with the CQC to undertake the regulated activity of diagnostic and screening procedures. Reporting is undertaken by four qualified consultant musculoskeletal radiologists and two neuro radiologists who work with InHealth under practising privileges arrangements. The Birmingham Upright MRI Centre employed five staff. The service is open Monday to Friday. The service as of March 2022 only scanned adults over the age of 18 years of age.

The Birmingham Upright MRI Centre provided Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning for service users in a range of positions. The scan is an open scanner making the scanning of claustrophobic service users less stressful. During the inspection, we visited the service centre in Birmingham only, Upright MRI also have two other centres. We spoke to all staff on duty including; the registered manager of imaging services, one radiographer, and two reception staff.

Between January 2021 and December 2021, 1,089 adults were scanned (290 NHS and 796 private or self-funding) and seven children were scanned in total (2 NHS and five private or self-funding).

We spoke with and observed the care of three service users who visited the unit that day. We also reviewed information provided by the service and looked at online systems and records.

There were no special reviews or investigations of the service ongoing by the CQC at any time during the 12 months before this inspection. This was the Birmingham Upright MRI Centre first rated inspection since registering with CQC in 2014.

Services provided for the clinic under service level agreement:

• Information technology (IT).
• Cleaning services.
• Clinical waste.
• Equipment maintenance.
• Servicing and repair.

Updated 4 April 2022

The Birmingham Upright MRI Centre is operated by InHealth Group. The Birmingham Upright MRI Centre opened in 2014. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body in both health and disease. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves to generate images of the organs in the body.

The scanner is specifically designed to assist those who may not be able to tolerate a conventional MRI scan for a variety of reasons:

• Claustrophobia or severe anxiety.
• High body mass index (BMI) or broad shoulder width.
• Unable to lay flat for a variety of reasons.
• Have the need of a positional/upright scan to assist in diagnosis.

The aim of the centre is to provide a diagnostic pathway for those service users whose care pathways would not be possible through lack of an MRI scan, because they are not able to tolerate the confines of a standard configuration magnet.

We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out an unannounced inspection on 1 February 2022.

This was the first time we inspected and rated this service since the service was first registered with the CQC in 2014.

Updated 4 April 2022

We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for service users and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect people from abuse, and managed safety well. The service-controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to service users, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of the service users advised, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.
• Staff treated service users with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to service users, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for screening.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of service users receiving care.
• Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with people and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

However:

• Service users did not always receive relevant information prior to their scan.
• Cleaning schedules for service users’ toilets were not always on display. We raised this with the provider during our inspection and cleaning schedules are now on display.
• Furniture in the waiting area were not easily wipeable to maintain cleanliness and infection and prevention control. We raised our concerns with the provider during our inspection who informed us that easily wipeable furniture will be arranged.
• The centre did not follow their anaphylaxis flow chart by having enough intravenous (IV) fluid bag on site, as per their anaphylaxis treatment flow chart, which stated a fluid challenge of 500ml to 1000ml was required if treating anaphylaxis. We raised our concerns with the provider during our inspection, who informed us they will ensure to provide additional fluids as per anaphylaxis treatment flow chart. After the inspection the provider told us their procedures had changed and they now provide it.
• Resident Medical Officer (RMO) qualifications and competence checks were not available for CQC to review. Therefore, we could not be assured the RMO was qualified and competent to administer the contrast. We raised our concerns with the provider during our inspection period and we were sent additional evidence that provided us with assurances.